Fishing the Those who have yet to Gulkana River travel to the Gulkana are missing a rare glimpse of a unique piece ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME of Alaska SPORT FISH DIVISION 1300 COLLEGE ROAD FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99701 (907) 459-7207 GLENNALLEN OFFICE: (907) 822-3309 Contents Fishing the Gulkana River: an Introduction . 1 Roads and lodging . 2 Remote fishing sites: the Middle Fork and the West Fork . 2 The mainstem Gulkana: Paxson Lake to Sourdough . 2 Fishing for grayling in the Gulkana . 3 Fishing for rainbow trout in the Gulkana . 4 The lower Gulkana: Sourdough to the Richardson Highway bridge . 5 Salmon fishing in the Gulkana . 5 Downstream from the Richardson Highway bridge . 6 Lake trout fishing in Summit and Paxson lakes . 6 What to do if you catch a tagged fish . 7 Gulkana River float trips: mileage logs . 8 ADF&G Trophy Fish Program . 10 Catch-and-release techniques . 11 Trophy Fish Affidavit form . 12 Gulkana River area map . back cover he Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, Tnational origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information please write to ADF&G, PO Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203 or OEO, US Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240 For information on alternative formats for this and other department publications, please contact the department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-2440 This brochure was produced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish, Region III (Interior Alaska: Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim and Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River areas) 1300 College Rd., Fairbanks AK 99708 (907) 459-7207 Reach us on the web at: www.state.ak.us/adfg/sportf/region3/rgn3home.htm Sport fishing regulations in the AYK region are posted on the web and can be viewed by clicking on the link for “Statewide Regulations” at the Sport Fish home page. Emergency orders and current information about inseason closures are also posted and updated daily on our website. © 2001 Alaska Department of Fish and Game All rights reserved Photographs in this brochure are the property of ADF&G No portion of this brochure may be reproduced without permission from ADF&G fish, and wildlife values and Flowing through a basin of Fishing The provides protection for the rolling hills covered by spruce Gulkana River benefit of present and future and scattered hardwoods, the generations. Gulkana offers a range of Those who have visited the waters from very challenging Gulkana River can appreci- rapids to stretches of gentle meanders. Moose, beaver, he Gulkana River and sockeye salmon, as ate the reasons for this originates in the well as fewer numbers of classification; those who bear, eagles, ducks, and T trumpeter swans are often Alaska Range and lake trout, and catch-and- have yet to travel to the seen along the river, and flows south to join the release-only fisheries for Gulkana are missing a rare much of the Nelchina caribou Copper River near the rainbow and steelhead glimpse of a unique piece herd summers in the area. community of Gulkana. This trout. In the winter, there of Alaska. beautiful clearwater system is excellent ice fishing for affords unique and diverse lake trout and burbot in remote sport fishing oppor- area lakes. tunities. The Gulkana River Land upstream of Sour- drainage supports the single dough is mainly federal largest recreational fishery in and state-owned. The the Glennallen area and section of the Gulkana has grown to be one of the River upstream from largest Arctic grayling Sourdough has been fisheries in the state. In designated by the U.S. addition to its renowned Congress as a Wild River. grayling fishing, the Gulkana This classification recog- The Gulkana offers a range of watersfrom River drainage has great nizes the area’s excep- very challenging rapids to gentle meanders summertime fishing for king tional scenic, recreational, 1 Roads, access, Two short portages lead to a short stretch of Class III Air charter operators for and lodging an unnamed muddy, shallow waters lies approximately 6 these trips are available lake. From there, you have miles downstream from throughout the Copper You can reach the Gulkana two choices: (1) continue to Dickey Lake. The last 10 River Basin. The Copper River by roads and trails the south end of miles of the Middle Valley Visitor Center (907- leading off the Richardson the muddy lake, Anglers Fork, before it flows 822-5555) has current Highway, which parallels where two short into the mainstem information on area air much of the river. Com- portages and a enjoy Gulkana, is a slow charter operators. fortable lodgings can be 1- mile portage some of meander and a Another option is to enter found along the road south will take good time for the upper reaches of the system in Glennallen and Alaskas you to Dickey wildlife viewing West Fork from the Tyone Gakona, and at Paxson and premier Lake and the and relaxing. River. Just a few short Summit Lakes. headwaters of grayling portages, and the entire The West Fork Remote fishing the Middle Fork; fishing drainage is available to drains several bogs sites: the Middle or (2) travel/line your canoe paddle, and lake systems as Fork and the West up the Tangle camera, and fishing rod. Fork River out of the it travels down to muddy lake and paddle to join the mainstem of the The mainstem For the more adventurous the 1-mile portage above Gulkana River, 8 miles above Gulkana: Paxson angler seeking a truly Dickey Lake. You may also Sourdough. Here also, Lake to Sour- remote fishing experience, choose to fly in to Dickey waterfowl nesting and dough the Gulkana's two major Lake to begin your float trip. wildlife viewing are at their tributaries—the Middle Grayling fishing can be very best. A canoe is the best The most popular and Fork and the West Fork— fine in that section from the choice for travel along this scenic section of the may be the places to go. outlet of Dickey Lake on stretch. A float plane trip to Gulkana River is the 50- To reach the Middle downstream 15 miles. several lakes along the West mile stretch from Paxson Fork, take a canoe or USE CAUTION: the first 5 Fork can provide access to Lake downstream to small raft south through miles after leaving Dickey the river, depending on Sourdough. Anglers who the upper Tangle Lakes. lake are Class II waters, and water conditions. float this section in June 2 through August are treated (Class III/IV). The well- Richardson Highway to some of Alaska’s premier marked 1/4-mile portage and passes grayling fishing. These fish around the rapids is used through forest, average 8 to 16 inches long by all but the most experi- bog, and and are relatively fast- enced canoeists, kayakers, alpine tundra growing; most fish caught or rafters equipped with as it winds its strike are 3 to 5 years old. suitable rowing frames. way back to To experience the upper Eight miles of small the confluence Gulkana River, floaters in boulder rapids and of the Middle rafts or canoes begin at the excellent grayling fishing Fork. The Paxson Lake campground lie below the canyon. Haggard Creek (Mile 175 Richardson Hwy) From there to Sourdough, trail (Mile 161) and paddle the 3 miles to the river meanders more runs through the outlet of Paxson Lake slowly with occasional bogs and where they can fish for riffles and small rapids. lowlands and grayling, lake trout, and The entire float covers intercepts the whitefish. The next 3 miles, almost 50 river miles, and Gulkana in the to the confluence with the anglers should allow a Canyon Rapids minimum of three or four area. Both Middle Fork, is swift, "skitter" to is grayling for technique effective An a entice to surface the along fly the boulder-strewn water, with days to complete the trip. trails are open excellent grayling fishing. Camping sites are plenti- to ATVs, but bogs and roadside streams, and Then the river meanders ful along the wooded lowlands make motorized resultant closures and bag over a 16-mile stretch, shoreline. travel difficult. limit restrictions, many broken up by small rapids Two main 7-mile long trails Fishing for anglers are turning to the that provide fast-action provide access to the grayling in the Gulkana River to fish for grayling fishing (and an middle reaches of the Gulkana grayling. The Gulkana occasional rainbow trout). mainstem Gulkana. The supports a healthy popula- The river then enters an Meiers Lake-Middle Fork With declining grayling tion of Arctic grayling and is area called Canyon Rapids trail begins at Mile 169 populations in other area presently being managed 3 Fishing for for conservation The Gulkana rainbow trout in of its historic River is grayling size, age home to the Gulkana compositions, the most northerly Anglers fishing the Gulkana and abundance rainbow River can anticipate levels.